The statues on top of the Dolphin hotel are not mammalian dolphins, but a stylized version of a nautical dolphin, a common symbol used on old world nautical maps. The design of the creatures is based on Triton Fountain in Rome.

The "dolphins" sitting atop the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel are not mammalian dolphins (the ones we see jumping in the ocean); they are actually stylized nautical dolphins, a common motif in Renaissance art and old-world maps. Designed by architect Michael Graves, these 56-foot-tall statues are based on the "dolphin" fish (also known as Mahi-mahi), which has a more rounded head and a continuous dorsal fin. Graves wanted the architecture to be "entertainment" itself, using a postmodern style that tells a story. The creatures are depicted with scaly bodies and fierce, fish-like faces, specifically modeled after the fountains of Rome, such as the Triton Fountain. This often confuses guests who expect a "Flipper"-style bottle-nose dolphin. The choice was intentional to match the hotel’s "nautical" theme while maintaining a sense of whimsical, classical grandeur that sets it apart from a standard modern resort.